Motorola leaps to become third largest US phone vendor

Motorola has managed to secure the third position in the US phone vendor market, following behind Apple and Samsung. This feat was achieved after LG’s exit from the phone market in July 2021, allowing Motorola to take over the market gap left by LG’s departure.

As of the latest Q3 data by Counterpoint, Motorola now holds an impressive 11% market share in the US, trailing only behind Apple with 53% and Samsung with 25%. This also marks the first time that Lenovo, Motorola’s parent company, has sold more phones in the US than the entire “Others” category combined.

Motorola’s success can be attributed to its value-for-money handsets, including flagship and foldable phone lines, offering larger screens and higher refresh rate displays at very affordable prices. Additionally, its lineup of budget and mid-range handsets stand apart from the competition with features like extraordinary battery life and stylus editions, all within the sub-$500 and sub-$300 segments.

However, where Motorola falls short compared to its competitors is in its Android software and security update frequency. While its budget phones receive 2 years of security patches, its higher-end handsets get only 3 to 4 years of security updates, with new Android versions taking longer to roll out.

As the Android gatekeeper, Google sets an example with its commitment to providing seven years of software support for its Pixel phones. While it may not be a deal-breaker for most consumers, more frequent software updates could further enhance Motorola’s competitiveness against Samsung and Apple.

Ultimately, with its market share on the rise, Motorola has the opportunity to enhance its software update frequency and further distinguish itself in the value-for-money category among US consumers.